Dear friends and members of our community,
The year 2023 saw a record increase in our management and maintenance costs of our listed building, while we faced significant expenses related to the change of pastor.
The financial challenges observed in 2023 can be explained by four phenomena:
- The maintenance costs of our historic building skyrocketed in 2023, due to inflation. Energy expenses have tripled, and general maintenance expenses (insurance, maintenance, compliance) are heavily weighing on our resources;
- Exceptional costs related to the departure of Stéphane Desmarais and his wife Cindy,and the arrival of our new pastor Pascale Renaud-Grobras. The costs associated with the application for sponsor status, now mandatory post-Brexit for a work visa, reached £6.5k, not including moving expenses;
- The completion of hiring a new managerin July 2023, after more than a year’s vacancy;
- The resumption of our work with our reference architects– Caroe Architecture – to start the preparatory work for the complete renovation of our roof, whose slates still largely date from 1893 and have reached the end of their life.
A Decrease in Our Resources Was Unfortunately Observed During the Same Period:
- With the departure of our main tenant – Le Petit Journal – in September 2022, our rental income has drastically droppedand only reached £22.6k in 2023, compared to £45k in 2022;
- Your donations have also decreased, trend particularly striking when excluding your gifts for the farewell gift of Stéphane and Cindy (£19k, compared to £29.2k in 2022);
Our financial stability is essentially ensured thanks to the grant we receive from the Trust (£96k in 2023) but this could not compensate for the increase in our costs, and we thus end the year with a deficit of nearly £54,000, impacting our reserves.
Our free reserve funds for the roof renovation project now only amount to £245,000 at the end of 2023, after this deduction, while the project itself is estimated at £2,500,000, a sum that is likely to significantly increase with inflation-related revisions.
How Can You Help?
Your contribution is essential for the preservation of our heritage. Your generosity will support our mission and strengthen our community. Donate today to make a difference tomorrow, and every donation, big or small, is crucial.
We rely on you for sustainable financial support. Make a difference – opt for a regular donation via direct debit or Total Giving, at the frequency of your choice.
Don’t forget that thanks to Gift Aid, every pound donated increases in value, with an additional 25% recovered on your contributions.
In this critical period, your support is our pillar.
Thank you in advance,
The Consistory
